Formatting data

ABSTRACT

Data from different sources and having different formats is converted to a format useable by a device to which the data is to be sent. The conversion is performed based on configuration data and can be performed by an application server configured to provide a network application service to a user terminal associated with the entity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to formatting data.

BACKGROUND

In networked environments, data can be transferred from one networkentity to another across different functional or operational platforms.In some situations, a specific data format may be required by a networkentity in order for the data to be usable by the network entity. Forexample, a first network entity that is coupled to a second networkentity may be configured to output data in a data format required by thesecond network entity. In some systems, such as proprietary systems, allnetwork entities may be configured to use a common data format.

SUMMARY

In order to enable use of a network resource by multiple entities thatrequire different data formats, to reduce instances of incompatibilityof various entities and increase accessibility of data or networkresources, data stored in a first format can be automatically convertedto a second format for access by an entity that requires the data to bein the second format. For example, a printer, or other peripheral deviceor system component may be configured to output information related todata files only if the data files have a proprietary format associatedwith a manufacturer or the device or a software product, or of theoperator of the printer. A computer application that interacts with theprinter can convert data to the format required by the printer beforesending the data to the printer. In some implementations, theapplication utilizes a configuration file that enables the applicationto transmit a data stream to the printer in the required format.

In one aspect, a method for formatting travel data includes receivinginstructions to transmit travel object data to a hardware device. Thetravel object data has a first data format, and the hardware deviceutilizes a second data format. The method also includes accessing thetravel object data, accessing travel object configuration data, andconverting the travel object data to the second data format according tothe travel object configuration data. The method further includestransmitting the travel object data having the second data format to thehardware device.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the method may include identifying a first portion of thetravel object data having the first format based on the travel objectconfiguration data, and performing an operation to modify the firstportion of the travel object data. The operation may be specified by thetravel object configuration data. In addition, the hardware device maybe a printer and the travel object data may be associated with a travelticket object, a travel receipt object, or a baggage tag object

In some examples, the method may include identifying the first formatand the second format and selecting the travel object configuration databased on the first format and the second format. In these examples, thefirst format may be identified based on a location from which theinstructions are received.

In another aspect, a system includes a data repository storing travelobject data having a first format, a data repository storing travelobject configuration data, and an output device. The system alsoincludes a computer processor operable to convert the travel object datahaving the first format to travel object data having a second formatbased on the travel object configuration data, and to transmit thetravel object data having the second format to the output device for usein generating an output.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the system may include a user terminal operable to control thecomputer processor. In this example, the data repository storing travelobject data having a first format may be associated with a firstprovider of travel products, and the system may include a datarepository storing travel object data having a third format andassociated with a second provider of travel products.

In yet another aspect, a tangible computer-readable storage medium has acomputer program product stored thereon. The computer program productincludes instructions that, when executed by one or more computerprocessors, enable operations that include receiving instructions totransmit travel object data to a hardware device. The travel object datahas a first data format, and the hardware device utilizes a second dataformat. The operations also include accessing the travel object data,accessing travel object configuration data, and converting the travelobject data to the second data format according to the travel objectconfiguration data. The operations further include transmitting thetravel object data having the second data format to the hardware device.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the operations may include identifying a first portion of thetravel object data having the first format based on the travel objectconfiguration data, and performing an operation to modify the firstportion of the travel object data. The operation may be specified by thetravel object configuration data. In addition, the hardware device maybe a printer and the travel object data may be associated with a travelticket object, a travel receipt object, or a baggage tag object.

In some examples, the operations may include identifying the firstformat and the second format and selecting the travel objectconfiguration data based on the first format and the second format. Inthese examples, the first format may be identified based on a locationfrom which the instructions are received.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will beapparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for formatting data for use by a device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a process for formatting data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system for formatting travel data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a data structure of a travel record.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a data structure of a configuration file.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a printed travel document

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a computer system.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Common use of a network resource, such as a hardware device, bydifferent network entities may be desired in some instances. Where ahardware device or other network resource is operable with a singlerequired data format, availability of the hardware device is limited tothose network entities that also utilize the required data format. Forexample, a printer device may be configured to print boarding passdocuments for passengers, and may require data in a first format inorder to print a document. In order to make the printer available tomultiple network entities that use different data formats, such as dataof multiple airlines that maintain data regarding passenger records indifferent formats, the format of the data can be converted to the formatrequired by the printer such that passenger documents (e.g., boardingpasses) from multiple airlines can be printed at a single printer in theformat required by that airline. The configuration of printers forcommon use for multiple data formats can be based on the concept of“login locations,” that correspond to network entities or workstations.Each login location can use either common use or non-common useprinters. For login locations that use common use printers, an emulatorpass-through technique is used to transmit data to a printer in a formatrequired by the printer. As one example this feature provides additionalflexibility in commercial airports that allow multiple differentairlines to share gates within the terminal. The multiple differentairlines then also share the gate agent desk and computer equipment usedto service passenger requests such as changing seats, processingupgrades and standby lists and printing new boarding documents. Thecomputer equipment and document printers must be able to print boardingpasses formatted in the style and with the information required by theparticular airline. Rather than the airline having a dedicated printerthat only prints boarding documents for that airline, the present systemallows data from a particular airline to be transferred into the formatrequired for printing on the printer located at that particular gateagent desk.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a system 100 is operable to formatnative data 101 for use by a particular target device 140 according to aprocess 200. In the system 100, the native data 101 is stored in a datarepository 110 and is accessible by an application 120. A configurationfile 103 stored in a configuration file repository 130 is alsoaccessible to the application 120. The configuration file 103 is used bythe application 120 to convert the native data 101 into formatted data105, which is transmitted to the target device 140. The application 120can access data 101 from the data repository 110 in a native format usedby the entity that generates and/or maintains the data 101. The system100 and application 120 can also provide a display to a user and mayoptionally enable modification of the data 101 based on user input.

With reference to FIG. 2, in order to transmit the data 101 to thetarget device 140, the application 120 receives an instruction totransmit data 101, such as travel object data, to the particular device140 (201). After receiving the instruction, the application 120 accessesthe data 101 (203), and identifies a first format, e.g., the nativeformat, of the data 101 (205). The application 120 also identifies asecond data format used or required by the particular hardware device140 (207). Based on the identified first and second data formats, theapplication 120 identifies the configuration file 103 associated withthe first and second data formats and requests the configuration file103 from the configuration file repository 130 (209).

The configuration file 103 includes information that is furtherprocessed by the application 120 to convert the data 101 from the firstformat to the second format (211). The application 120 then generates adata stream of formatted data 105 and transmits the formatted data 105to the target device 140 (213). For example, the application 120 can usethe configuration file 103 to identify portions of the native data 101that contain information to be used by the target device 140. Theidentified portions of the native data 101 are used to generate theformatted data 105. In some instances, the application 120 adds data toand/or removes data from the identified portions of the native data 101in order to convert the data to the second format.

In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the application 120can be used in an airline operation system 300 to transmit a widevariety of travel object data, such as data regarding airline or othertravel product purchase or reservation information to various networkentities, such as a printer device 351 or another hardware device 355.The application 120 processes and transmits the data regarding thetravel objects in an appropriate format for use by the network entities.The airline operation system 300 includes user terminals 310 that areaccessible by airline agents, airline customers, or other individuals toaccess, review, modify, and transmit travel object data from travelobject data repositories 110 and 341 associated with different airlinesor other providers of travel-related goods and services. For example, anairline agent, or a passenger in a self-service environment, can use aworkstation terminal 310 to access the application 120 via a travelapplication server 320 over a computer network 390.

The travel application server 320 can include one or more applications120 that are used to perform various airline operation functions, suchas checking-in passengers and/or printing travel documents, such asboarding documents, itineraries, standby documents, receipts, luggagetags, or other travel documents. In particular, the travel applicationserver 320 can allow access to the travel object data repository 110associated with a first airline through a travel object manager 330 aassociated with a first airline and can allow access to the travelobject data repository 341 associated with a second airline through asecond travel object manager 330 b. Thus, where a customer has reservedan itinerary that involves one or more flight segments provided bycooperating airline partners, the customer can be checked in at the userterminal 310 and boarding documents for all flight segments can beprinted at the printer device 351 associated with the user terminal 310regardless of the native format of the travel object data associatedwith the flight segment reservation objects. Similarly, the userterminal 310 can be used to check in different passengers of differentairlines at different times.

In an example implementation, a check-in agent can access theapplication 120 via the user terminal 310 to check-in a passenger for aflight on Airline 1. The application 120 accesses data stored in thetravel object data repository 110 associated with the passenger. Ifdesired, the agent can modify the data associated with the passenger,such as by assigning or re-assigning a seat, or by adding informationregarding an additional service purchased by or assigned to thepassenger. Similarly, the agent can update profile data associated withthe passenger, such as by adding information regarding a loyalty programaccount associated with the passenger. When the agent is ready to printthe passenger's boarding pass, the agent instructs the application totransmit data of a boarding pass travel object to the printer 351. Basedon the instruction to transmit data, the application accesses the travelobject data associated with the boarding pass object and identifies anative format of the travel object data. The application also determinesone or more compatible data formats associated with the printer 351. Ifthe native data format is not a compatible data format associated withthe printer 351, the application accesses a format file stored in theformat file repository 130 from a format file server 340. As discussedabove, the application 120 converts the travel object data associatedwith the passenger's boarding pass to a compatible data formatassociated with the printer 351 according to the format file.

For example, the Travel Record 001 of FIG. 4 illustrates a portion ofdata structure 400 of the travel object data repository 110 that definesa boarding pass travel object. As shown, the data structure 400 includesinformation 401 regarding the title of the travel object class, andinformation 403 regarding information included in the travel objectclass. For example, a boarding pass travel object includes information405 regarding the first name of a passenger associated with a particularboarding pass. As shown, the travel object data repository 110 includesdata indicating that the first name of a passenger associated with aparticular boarding pass travel object is “James.” Similarly, the travelobject data repository 110 includes data indicating that the passengerassociated with the particular boarding pass travel object is a male,has the last name “Harris” and is a member of the “Executive” loyaltyprogram. Though not illustrated, it should be understood that the travelobject data repository can include information regarding one or more ofthe other listed categories of information and/or information regardingone or more other categories of information, such as flight originlocation, flight destination location, flight carrier information,flight number information, departure date information, departure timeinformation, departure gate information, and/or seat assignmentinformation, among others.

Now referring to FIG. 5, the Configuration File 001 illustrates aportion of a data structure 500 of the format file repository 130. Asillustrated, the Configuration File 001 includes computer-executableinstructions operable to generate a data stream in a format suitable foruse by a target device. For example, the data structure 500 includesinstructions 501 for generating a data stream for use by a printer toprint a portion of a boarding pass, such as the boarding pass 600 ofFIG. 6. The instructions 501 cause the application to create a datastream that includes last name information and first name informationassociated with a header “05” based on the entry “<Section Header=“05”Trailer=“#”>.” The instructions 501 identify a source of the last nameinformation based on the entry “<DataFieldPath=“BoardingPass.LastName”/>” and a source of the first nameinformation based on the entry “<StringDataFieldPath=“BoardingPass.FirstName”. The instructions also identify formattingoperations. As shown, the instructions 501 cause the entire last name tobe shown, cause the last character of the last name to be followed by aforward slash based on the entry “<TextField Text=“/”/>” and cause onlythe first character of the first name to follow the forward slash basedon the entry “MaxLength=“1”/>.”

The data structure 500 also includes similar instructions (not shown)that cause the application to create a data stream with informationregarding other components of the boarding pass. The instructions canutilize a similar technique of identifying data stored in the travelobject data repository 110 and may include instructions to addcharacters to the data, remove characters from the data, or performother operations on the data. For example, time information can beconverted to a different format. Similarly, price information can begenerated by adding component prices, such as a base price amount and afee amount, and/or by multiplying a price amount by a discount rate or asurcharge rate. In some implementations, additional information can beincluded in the data stream based on data stored in the travel objectdata repository 110, or another data storage device. For example, if abalance due is greater than zero, a message indicating that payment isrequired can be included in the data stream. Again, the balance dueinformation may be stored in the travel object data repository 110 ormay be determined from information stored in the travel object datarepository 110. Additionally, the instructions can cause the applicationto loop through two or more travel objects. For example, theinstructions 503 cause the application to create a data stream to printa separate boarding pass for each segment of a flight. As will beunderstood, many other operations can be performed to generate the datastream based on the configuration file in order to generate printeddocuments having a desired layout and desired content.

As shown in FIG. 6, a boarding pass 600 includes a first section 600 aand a second section 600 b. The first section 600 a includes passengername information 601, origin location information 603, destinationlocation information 605, carrier information 607, flight numberinformation 609, date information 611, and passenger account information613. The second section 600 b includes some or all of the informationincluded in the first portion 600 a and also includes departure and seatassignment information 615. As described above, the boarding pass 600 isgenerated by a printer based on a data stream received from anapplication based on the Configuration File 001, or anotherconfiguration file, and based on information associated with a boardingpass travel object.

Referring to FIG. 7, the application 120 may be implemented as acomputer software product that is executed by a computer system 700.Additionally, one or more other components of the systems 100 and 300can include one or more computer systems, such as the computer system700, or components thereof. The computer system 700 includes one or moreprocessors 710, memory modules 720, storage devices 730, andinput-output devices 740 connected by a system bus 750. The input-outputdevices 740 are operable with one or more peripheral devices 760,including a communication device that is operable to communicate withother computer systems or components thereof. Other peripheral devicethat may be included in the computer system 700 include output devicessuch as displays, speakers, and printers, and input devices such aspointers, microphones, keyboards, and scanners. The one or more computersystems 700 can perform the various functions described in thisdisclosure by executing computer instructions embodied in computersoftware stored on a computer-readable storage device, such as thememory modules 720, the storage devices 730, and/or the peripheraldevices 760.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims. Forexample, although the system 300 is illustrated as a distributed systemwith separate components connected via the network 390, one or more ofthe user terminal 310, the travel application server 320, the travelobject managers 330 a and 330 b, and the travel object data repositories110 and 341 can be located in the same physical location and/or the samecomputer system, or each can be maintained in separate locations and/orcomputer systems. Similarly, functions described with respect to onecomponent may be performed by two separate components, and functionsdescribed with respect to separate components can alternatively beperformed by a single component. For example, the travel applicationserver can be integrated into a system component that maintains andmanages travel object data as well as provides all of the requiredfunctions of an airline customer that involve the travel object data,including creation and modification of travel object data that relatesto travel products and services purchased by customers, as well asancillary functions, such as payment processing and customer accountmanagement, among others. With regard to the processes described above,the steps of the described processes can be performed in any order thatachieves the described results. Additionally, while particular examplesof the instructions of the data structure 500 associate with aconfiguration file have been included, alternative instructions can beused to accomplish the functions of the configuration file describedabove. For example, the instructions may be provided using differentcoding and/or different programming languages that illustrated in thisdisclosure.

1. A method for formatting travel data, comprising: receivinginstructions to transmit travel object data to a hardware device, thetravel object data having a first data format, and the hardware deviceutilizing a second data format; accessing the travel object data;accessing travel object configuration data; converting the travel objectdata to the second data format according to the travel objectconfiguration data; and transmitting the travel object data having thesecond data format to the hardware device.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein converting includes identifying a first portion of the travelobject data having the first format based on the travel objectconfiguration data, and performing an operation to modify the firstportion of the travel object data, the operation being specified by thetravel object configuration data.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising identifying the first format and the second format andselecting the travel object configuration data based on the first formatand the second format.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the firstformat is identified based on a location from which the instructions arereceived.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware device is aprinter and the travel object data is associated with a travel ticketobject, a travel receipt object, or a baggage tag object.
 6. A systemcomprising: a data repository storing travel object data having a firstformat; a data repository storing travel object configuration data; anoutput device; and a computer processor operable to convert the travelobject data having the first format to travel object data having asecond format based on the travel object configuration data, and totransmit the travel object data having the second format to the outputdevice for use in generating an output.
 7. The system of claim 6,further comprising a user terminal operable to control the computerprocessor.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data repository storingtravel object data having a first format is associated with a firstprovider of travel products, and further comprising a data repositorystoring travel object data having a third format and associated with asecond provider of travel products.
 9. A tangible computer-readablestorage medium having a computer program product stored thereon, thecomputer program product including instructions that, when executed byone or more computer processors, enable: receiving instructions totransmit travel object data to a hardware device, the travel object datahaving a first data format, and the hardware device utilizing a seconddata format; accessing the travel object data; accessing travel objectconfiguration data; converting the travel object data to the second dataformat according to the travel object configuration data; andtransmitting the travel object data having the second data format to thehardware device.
 10. The tangible computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 9, wherein converting includes identifying a first portion of thetravel object data having the first format based on the travel objectconfiguration data, and performing an operation to modify the firstportion of the travel object data, the operation being specified by thetravel object configuration data.
 11. The tangible computer-readablestorage medium of claim 9, further comprising identifying the firstformat and the second format and selecting the travel objectconfiguration data based on the first format and the second format. 12.The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thefirst format is identified based on a location from which theinstructions are received.
 13. The tangible computer-readable storagemedium of claim 9, wherein the hardware device is a printer and thetravel object data is associated with a travel ticket object, a travelreceipt object, or a baggage tag object.